Thailand Live Tuesday 25 Oct 2011

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SET closed in the green +19.37 points, trade value at Bt13.54bln on back of +Dow Jones. /TAN_Network

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Defence min to use military vehicles to help retailers distribute goods to outlets as floods blocked logistics. /TAN_Network

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1,800 flood victims deny to move out of TU´s evacuation center

BANGKOK, 25 October 2011 (NNT) - About 1,800 flood victims affirm their intention to stay at Thammasat University Rangsit Campus's evacuation center despite persistent calls for them to evacuate to other centers due to assistance problems that might occur in the long run.

Assoc Prof Dr Kampol Ruchiwit, the vice rector for administration at Thammasat's Rangsit campus, said that evacuation had begun for flood victims at the TU evacuation center to move to Rajamangala Stadium; however, about 1,800 flood evacuees insisted to stay further at TU. Officials at the center are attempting to convince the evacuees to move to other places due to lack of electricity, decreasing amount of water and fewer volunteers who are tired from work. Although some dry food has been stocked up, there might be difficulties in transporting necessary supplies and assistance in the long run. As related officials are quickly negotiating with the flood victims, there is still no clue when all of the flood victims will evacuate out of the TU evacuation center.

-- NNT 2011-10-25

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Bangkok at flood crisis

Bangkok flood has escalated into a crisis and the unfolding situation must be monitored minute by minute, Defence Minister Yuthasak Sasiprapha said on Tuesday.

"Yes, Bangkok is now in a crisis," he said.

The capital will tomorrow face a massive run-off from Ayutthaya, Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said.

The tomorrow's water flow is estimated at 4,000 cubic meters per second and will arrive via Nonthaburi entering western Bangkok at three major canals, Thawee Wattana, Bangkok Noi and Bang Phlat, he said.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-25

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Special holiday to brace for flood

The Cabinet on Tuesday approved a government holiday on Thursday, Friday and Monday, effectively granting a five-day vacation for residents to brace for flood.

The holiday will take effect in 21 provinces, including Bangkok.

The Flood Relief Operations Centre will remain open. The government has switched to a crisis mode as a massive run-off will tomorrow arrive at the capital coinciding with a high tide.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-25

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Forecast of tides in Bangkok

(Map)

Follow this link: http://easytide.ukho.gov.uk/EasyTide/EasyTide/ShowPrediction.aspx?PortID=6882A&PredictionLength=7

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Two-hour evacuation order for Muang Ake

The Flood Relief Operations Centre on Tuesday issued an evacuation order for Muang Ake residents to evacuate within two hours after the housing estate's flood wall collapsed for two meters.

FROC director Pracha Promnok said he expected the inundation at the housing estate to rise one to one and a half meters.

Meanwhile, Nok Air has suspended using Don Mueang Airport to November 1. Its flights would be relocated to Suvarnabhumi Airport.

-- The Nation 2011-10-25

[george]

#thaifloodEng Cabinet approves Oct 27-31 to be holiday for 21 flood effected provinces; Sukothai, Pijit, Pitsanulok, Nakornsawan, Utaithani, Chainart, Singburi, Angthong, Ayuttaya, Patumthani, Nonthaburi, Lopburi, Saraburi, NakornNayok, Prajinburi, Chacherngsao, Supanburi, Nakornpatom, Kumpangpetch Tak and Bangkok. (via ThaiKhuFah)

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Nok Air cancels its service from today until 1 Nov

BANGKOK, 25 October 2011 (NNT) - Nok Air budget airline has cancelled all flight schedules from 12.00hrs today until 1 November due to floods.

Mr Pathee Sarasin, Nok Air's chief executive officer, stated that Nok Air needs to stop its service temporarily from 12.00hrs today until 1 November as flood water has reached the top of Don Mueang runway. Airplanes departing from airports in other provinces are instructed to land at Suvarnabhumi Airport before being parked at U-Tapao International Airport, Chon Buri. Nok Air offers its service of approximately 53 flights per day.

-- NNT 2011-10-25

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Orient Thai moves its service to Suvarnabhumi Airport

BANGKOK, 25 October 2011 (NNT) – Orient Thai Airlines has moved services from Don Mueang Airport to Suvarnabhumi Airport temporarily as from today, 25 October, until further notice.

Passengers are requested to check in at counter D on the fourth floor of the departure terminal.

-- NNT 2011-10-25

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AFP: Thailand Declares Holidays To Cope With Flood Crisis

Follow this link:

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Chief of House committee on finance Pheu Thai MP Chaiya Phromma proposes MPs donate Bt5k of their pay to help flood victims. /TAN_Network

Commart Thailand event postpned from Nov 3-6 to Nov 24-27 at Queen Sirikit center. /via@lekasina /@tulsathit

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House to convene a general debate on flood

The Cabinet on Tuesday agreed to hold a general debate on flood, Tourism and Sports Minister Chumpol Silapa-archa said.

Lawmakers will review flood control following the first reading of the 2010 Budget Bill, scheduled for November 2-to-3, he said.

The flood debate will be a non-voting session.

-- The Nation 2011-10-25

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16 items declared CONTROL GOODS incl drinking water, toilet paper,torch,battery,toothpaste,tooth brush,sand,brick

Controlled Goods: <15seater-boat,rubber boots,blankets,buckets,draining pumps, sealing materials and candles

/TAN_Network

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283 bank branches closed

The Nation

A number of 283 bank branches are closed as of noon today, nearly half of them in Pathum Thani, according to Bank of Thailand.

The number of closed branches increased by 56 from last Friday, as floods ravaged many districts of Pathum Thani. Banks are closing more branches in Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi and Bangkok.

Of total, 132 branches are in Pathum Thani, 63 in Nonthaburi, and 21 in Bangkok. As a sign of improved situation in central provinces, banks have resumed services at some branches. The number of closed branches in Ayutthaya decreased to 46 from peak 57. Only 18 bank branches in Nakhon Sawan remain closed.

-- The Nation 2011-10-25

[george]

Ex-cop caught smuggling 4.5kg of marijuana into Phuket

Read more:

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Entire closure of banking system last option: BOT

The Nation

Bank of Thailand Governor Prasarn Trairatvorakul said that closing the entire banking system would be the last option, following the Cabinet on Tuesday declared Oct 27-31 as public holidays.

Prasarn said that shutting down the entire service could affect international trade. He noted that banks have already closed branches in flooded areas and the rest can operate as usual.

A meeting with commercial bank executives is scheduled late today, to evaluate the necessity of service termination through the long period.

-- The Nation 2011-10-25

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29-day Oil Reserve Ordered over Flood Crisis

The energy minister has ordered oil companies to keep 29-day fuel reserve on hand.

Two hundred and forty-two petrol stations have been closed due to floods.

However, cooking gas and LPG supply are still sufficient to meet consumers' demand.

Energy Minister Pichai Nariptapan has ordered oil companies to stock up to 29 days of fuel reserve on hand.

Meanwhle, the four million US dollars in revenue from petroleum royalty investment will be reported to the Cabinet and will be accounted for in creating a budget to benefit the country.

A total of 276 petrol stations have been closed due to floods.

Only 34 of these stations have reopened.

Eighty LPG stations remain closed although 30 others have reopened.

Eighteen cooking gas stations and 48 NGV stations have been affected as well.

The energy minister affirmed that there will be no shortage of cooking gas.

His major concern at this time is for transportation and logistics.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-25

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3:40pm Seeing some flooding in Paknam along waterfront for the first time. River has never been so high /via@RichardBarrow

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People on riverside should evacuate: Bangkok governor

BANGKOK, Oct 25 - Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra on Tuesday reiterated that the flooding situation in the Thai capital is now critical as the water level in the Chao Phraya River has risen to its highest level in more than a decade, since 1995.

Mr Sukhumbhand urged riverside residents and those in areas closely connected to the river to evacuate to government-provided temporary shelters due to the expected high tides this weekend, combined with another deluge of water from the North which will arrive at the capital beginning tomorrow.

The governor said that given the existing timeframe, it would be impossible to reinforce flood-prevention dykes covering all riverside areas in time as more time and an estimated ten million more sandbags are needed.

Mr Sukhumbhand said that workers at best can reinforce the dykes only in some locations such as Siriraj Hospital and the Grand Palace, while at the same time protecting Don Mueang Airport, housing the headquarters of the government’s Flood Relief Operations Centre (FROC).

The governor said that City Hall is confident that its protective operations at Lat Krabang and Bangchan industrial estates will be successful as government officers are directing workers, speeding up reinforcement of the 39-kilometre dykes to prevent flooding in those areas.

Meanwhile, the governor of the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority on Tuesday advised Bangkokians to reserve tap water in case electricity system is disrupted during the flooding.

Governor Charoen Patsara said the current flooding sometimes disables the waterworks but the agency is now able to control the situation.

Regarding the quality of tap water, Mr Charoen affirmed the production process of tap water is meeting standards of the World Health Organisation and concerned scientists have regularly examined and improved the water quality by adding air and some water purification and treatment chemicals.

Mr Charoen assured the public that they can safely consume the tap water.

The governor expressed concern, however, that high level of floodwater may disrupt the distribution of electricity by the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) which will also affect the use of water, particularly those living in high-rise buildings which depend on pumped water.

"People using water pumps should closely monitor the news and reserve some tap water," Mr Charoen noted. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-10-25

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15.40 Tap water in Suksawas found colored and smelly (via @Rawangpai & @Babymizza ) /via@Porpich

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Chon Buri residents prepare new evacuation center to welcome flood victims from Don Mueang

CHON BURI. 25 October 2011(NNT)- Chon Buri residents mobilized forces from government and private sectors to receive the flood evacuees who will travel from Don Mueang Airport to take shelter in Chon Buri province.

Today at the gymnasium of Chon Buri Institute of Physical Education, Chon Buri Governor Wichit Chatpaisit issued an order to agencies from government and private sectors, soldiers, police officers, students and general cittizens to clean the newly-estblished evacuation center in Chon Buri as well as provide mattresses, pillows, mosquito nets, clothes and other necessary items for the flood evacuees from Don Mueang Airport.

Additionally, the new center will also be equiped with facilities, doctors, medicines, sufficient food supply and officials who will take the best care of the flood victims. This evacuation center has a capacity of approximately 900 people, yet, has a possibility to be expanded to receive more evacuees to come. Overall, Chon Buri province is capable of accommodating around 5,000 evacuees.

-- NNT 2011-10-25

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Metropolitan Police officers sent out to evacuate flood victims from TU evacuation center to Rajamangala Stadium

BANGKOK, 25 October 2011 (NNT) - The Commissoner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) has dispatched police officers to assist in evacuating the flood victims from Thammasat University to Rajamangala Stadium.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Pol Lt Gen Chaktip Chaijinda has ordered the MPB's flood relief unit to assist flood victims in various flood-hit provinces since this morning. Officers from the Metropolitan Police Division 5 and 8 were dispatched to help evacuate flood victims from Thammasat University Rangsit Campus's evacuation center to Rajamangala Stadium before handing the responsibilities of taking care of the evacuees to officials from Police Division 4. Police officers from Metropolitan Police Division 6 brought 2 boats to rescue the flood-hit residents in Bang Bua Thong district, Nonthaburi province whereas authorities in other areas were ordered to stand by at their offices and assist flood victims in their responsible regions.

Moreover, every police station and the Traffic Police Division are instructed to survey the traffic conditions, set up signs displaying recommended routes for motorists to avoid floods and to prevent the traffic problems from spreading.

-- NNT 2011-10-25

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15.56 Urgent! 100 dogs need to evacuate right now due to high flood in Lam Luk Ka, Klong 2 ☎ 089-0586188 (via @Rawangpai ) /via@Porpich

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16.02 Vehicles should avoid roads along Chao Praya at 16.40 due to highest tide level 2.30 m at the time (via @js100radio ) /via@Pornpich

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FROC1: Metropolitan Waterworks Authority chief says additional measures have been implemented to provide safe and clean water for public.

FROC2: MWA admits in certain parts see discoloration and smell, measures have been implemented to treat tap water, quality return in 1day

FROC3: Public can rid tap water of chlorine smell by exposing tap water to air or boil/filter water if preferred.

FROC4: MWA reassures quality of water meets standards. Four treatment plants+12 distribution outlets enough to provide tap water for public

FROC5: MWA has prepared measures to protect treatment plants/distribution stations from floods with 2.5M high flood barriers.

FROC6: MWA says only problem to distributing water to public is lack of electricity, advised to reserve just small amt of water.

/TANN

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FROC7:Rep from Metropolitan Electricity Authority, assures enough electricity and multiple channels to distribute electricity

FROC8: MEA also assures it can provide electricity to all of BKK, Nonthaburi and Samut Prakan incl systems at flood gates/draining stns

FROC9: Call MEA (power outlets and electrical equips exposed to flood) to cut off electricity at 1130 or 022563388-89, 02-2563222.

/TAN_Netwwork

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Thousands of flood-affected people converge on “dry” Pattaya

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If you haven't renewed your visa you must go tomorrow; Thai Immigration at Chaeng Wattana closed 27-31 Oct /via @ACSBKK /via@RichardBarrow

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SET index closed at 942.55, up 26.21; Bt/USD30.69; GBP48.97; AUD32.03; EUR42.62; CAD30.49; HKD3.94; SGD24.17; JPY40.09